I have experienced it many times on multiple computers over a period of years, under various versions of Windows.
The mysterious "Folder in use . . . file or folder is open in another program"
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Anonymous
This has been a problem for years, maybe decades. You're cleaning up your folder/file structure and attempt to rename, delete, or move a folder in File Explorer, but you get a message that something somewhere is open in another program. But there's nothing open as near as you can tell.
After switching back and forth between windows and trying again many times, you finally decide your only recourse is to restart the computer. By then you've lost track of what you were trying to change. And you've run out of time to devote to this task, which should have taken a couple of minutes.
Is there a way to find the problem file other than searching randomly among open windows? There is no option in the popup to close the file, or to get more information about it.
I know it doesn't make sense, but I have often wondered if the File Explorer window in which you're viewing files is itself the problem program.
[Move from Word/ Windows 10/Microsoft 365 Apps or Office 365 for business]
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage
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8 answers
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Anonymous
2020-07-21T12:54:30+00:00 -
Suzanne S Barnhill 277.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator2020-07-21T13:06:10+00:00 Make sure you don't have the Preview pane displayed in File Explorer. If you're displaying a preview, Windows considers the file open.
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Anonymous
2020-07-21T20:06:52+00:00 Thanks, but "Launch folder windows in a separate process" was not enabled (checked).
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Anonymous
2020-07-21T18:51:30+00:00 Hi SBYH,
As per your description, please try to launch File Explorer, in the ribbon, click View tab>click Options >Change folder and search options> in the Folder Options windows click on view tab and under Advanced settings disable the option**“** Launch folder windows in a separate process” andclick Apply followed by OK. You can now close all the instances of File Explorer via Task Manager or reboot the machine to see if **** help.
I appreciate your time and understanding.
Best Regards
Waqas Muhammad
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Anonymous
2020-07-22T13:12:24+00:00 Sounds good.
I would note that the options in the three dropdowns for classifying questions before posting are cryptic at best. They don't really seem hierarchical.